Victims Family is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1984 in Santa Rosa, California, by bass guitarist Larry Boothroyd and guitarist and vocalist Ralph Spight. Devon VrMeer completed the trio as drummer. Their sound blended punk, heavy metal and jazz, making them difficult to categorise into a single genre. Allmusic says, "Since its inception, the trio has refused to be pigeonholed to any single musical style — incorporating elements of hardcore punk, jazz, funk, hard rock, and noise into its challenging sound". They were known as one of the most musically diverse bands in the San Francisco underground music scene. Over the years, Victims Family went through four drummers and two break-ups. Their name was taken from a piece by the cartoonist B. Kliban.
Links to Peel[]
Peel seemed to have first played a track from the Victims Family via a compilation album called 'Viva Umkhonto!' in the spring of 1987. He would play further material from the group, including a session they recorded for his programme in 1989, when they were touring Europe.
Sessions[]
Victim's Family (US) John Peel session - 1. 11th July 1989 (Restored & mastered)
1. Recorded: 1989-07-11. First Broadcast: 08 August 1989. Repeated: 12 September 1989
- Luv Letters/Balderdash / As It Were/God Jerry And The PMRC / Burly Jalisco / Corona Belly
Other Shows Played[]
- 1987
- 27 April 1987: Lock Of Interest (v/a album - Viva Umkhonto!) Konkurrel K 031/104
- 08 May 1987 (BFBS): Lock Of Interest (v/a album - Viva Umkhonto!) Konkurrel K 031/104
- 1989
- 07 March 1989: Mondo Freudo (album - Things I Hate To Admit) Konkurrel
- 28 March 1989: They Cut Out His Brain (Cuz He Knew Too Much) (LP - Things I Hate To Admit) Mordam
- 1990
- 17 November 1990: Luv Letters (album - White Bread Blues) Mordam
- 24 November 1990: Drink The Kool-Aid (album - White Bread Blues) Mordam
- 16 December 1990: Drink The Kool-Aid (LP - White Bread Blues) Mordam
- 1991
- 13 January 1991: D.O.G. (album - White Bread Blues) Mordam